Admission requirements
Only students of the MSc Crisis and Security Management can take this course.
Description
This course focuses on international conflict and cooperation in cyberspace. Our societies, economies and political systems are inextricably entwined with the digital realm which means that state conflict, geopolitical and economic tensions, as well as international (multilateral) regimes for international cooperation are also ‘digitised’. In this course we will look at the digital architecture of the internet and what that means for the threat landscape that states and societies face in cyberspace. We will analyse the different modalities that state-to-state conflict in cyberspace take, focusing on military, intelligence and disinformation operations. We will also analyse how states are engaged in diplomatic processes to devise rules of responsible behaviour in cyberspace and how these rules relate to day to day reality of cyber conflict and tensions. Finally, we will address geoeconomic aspects of state rivalry and the role that Big Tech and digital corporations play.
Course Objectives
After completing the course, students will be able to:
Understand, explain and apply theoretical perspectives on conflict and cooperation in cyberspace.
Examine and reflect on the relationship between the technological aspects of cyberspace and national and international security.
Critically evaluate and reflect on real-world examples of cyber and information operations, diplomatic processes and geo-economic developments in the digital realm
Present arguments and analyses on conflict and cooperation in cyberspace to a group.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the studyguide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
This course consists of seven sessions. The sessions will include lectures, interactive discussions, and student presentations.
Attendance is mandatory. Students are only allowed to miss more than one lecture if there are special, demonstrable personal circumstances. The Board of Examiners, in consultation with the study advisors, will decide on such an exceptional exemption of mandatory attendance.
Total study load 140 hours:
21 Contact hours.
119 Self-study hours: reading, preparing lectures, assignments, etc
Assessment method
Assessment for this course is based on two assignments:
Group assignment
30% of final grade
Resit not possible
Grade must be compensated in case of a fail (grade < 5.50)
Individual final exam
70% of final grade
Grade must be 5.50 or higher to pass the course
Resit possible
Resit will take the same form
The calculated overall course grade must be at least 5.50 in order to pass the course. If the calculated overall course grade is lower than 5.50, students are also permitted to resit the 70% exam.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Please note, registration for block 4 electives will be organised by the OSC in a different way from the regular course registration for semester 2. More information about this will follow in the beginning of semester 2.
Please note: Registration for the resit of an exam (and exam) is mandatory, this has to be done by the student and can be done from Monday 4 May 2026 until 10 days before the exam. Until 5 days before the exam you can email OSC and fill in a form.
Contact
Prof. dr. Dennis Broeders d.w.j.broeders@fgga.leidenuniv.nl